Sand pump



E111@ 77'@ @www J. GYGER SAND PUMP 2' sheets-sheet 1 Filed DeC- 19. 1924 June 10, 1930.

J. GYGER SAND PUMP June 10, 1930.

Filed nec. 19, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2,

Patented June 10, 1930 turen STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH G-YGER, OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OTTAWA SILICA COMPANY, OF

OTTAWA, ILLINcIs, A CORPORATION oF DELAWARE SAND PUMP Application filed December 19, 1924. Serial No. 757,018.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in pumps of the vacuum type adapted for use in pumping sand and other loose or fluid materials. The improved pump is one of the s pulsometer type in which steam is condensed by jets of water for the purpose of producing a vacuum to effect the flow into the pump chamber of the sand or other material to be conveyed by the pump, and in which the disio charge of the material from the pump chamber is effected by the direct action of the steam pressure. The principal object of the inven` tion is to provide a yconstruction in which the sand or other material has a more direct liow through the pump than has been the practice in pumps of this type heretofore used, whereby greater economy and efficiency in the operation of the pump are attained. Still another object of the invention is to reduce the friction of the sand or other material on the surfaces of the pump, thereby increasing the life of the parts and the eliiciency of operation. A further object is to provide means forcausing the moving body of sand to travel on stationary layers of sand at points where the moving body-'changes its direction of travel in moving' through the pump, thereby preventing wear on the parts of the pump structure. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement whichv will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings, Figure 1 shows an end elevation of the pump as viewed from the intake side; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;, 4 shows au enlarged vertical section through one of the water injection nozzles; Fig. 5 shows a detail section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 shows a vertical detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention comprises a pair of similar pump cyliuders 10 which are provided with flangesll by which the two cylinders are secured t0- gether. Each cylinder has an integral upper wall 12 and a removable lower wall 13, the lower walls each having secured thereto an inlet conduit 14 in the form of an elbow eX- tending laterally from the bottom of the pump cylinders and provided with inlet openings 15 through which the sand or other material flows in passing to the pump cylinders. The conduit 14 is provided just above the bend therein with an over-hanging lip or flange 16 forming an underlying recess 17, and these parts are adapted to collect a body of sand or the like 18 which remains in position around the convex side of the bend in the conduit so that the incoming sand or other material passes over it and wears on the surface of sand instead of corroding the surface of the conduit. The lower wall 13 of each cylinder 10 is provided with a valve seat 2O having an orili'ce 21 which receives the sand from the conduit 14. Each valve seat is pro- 7c vided with an arm 22 t0 which is connected a valve 23 of the disc typecomprising a sheet 24 of leather, rubber or the like provided on its under side with a circular plate 25 of rubber adapt-ed toengage the upper end surface of the valve seat. A metal weight 26 is mounted on the upper side of the sheet 24 and a washer 27 is located on the under side of the rubber disc 25, all of the parts of each valve being secured together by a bolt 28. The extent to which the valve is permitted to open is limited by an arm 29 which is secured with the adjacent plate 24 to the arm 22 by means of a stud 30.

The sand or other material is induced to flow into the chamber 33 of cylinder 10 by the creation of a vacuum therein, the vacuum being brought about by the condensation of steam in the chamber. The steam is introduced into the chamber 30 of the adjacent cylinders 10 through a valve casing 34 having mounted therein a steam valve 35, of the form shown particularly in Fig. 6, and the steam is supplied to the valve casing 34 through a pipe 36 regulated by a valve 37. 95 The casing 34 is provided vwith two-arms 34a, each of which is secured to the upper wall 12 of one of the cylinders l0 and each of which is provided further with a passage 38 leading from the chamber in which the valve 35 ico is mounted. A cap member 39 forms the upper part of the casing 34 and the trent sides of the valve chamber and the passage 38 are closed by cover plates 40. The valve meinber 35 is substantially triangular in crosssection, having a central chamber 41 bounded on its lateral sides by downwardly diverging walls 42 and 43 connected at their lower ends by an arc-shaped wall 44. The apex of the valve member is provided with a lug 45 which has a bearing in a notch 46 formed at the apex of the converging walls 47 ot the cap member 39. The steam pipe 36 communicates with a passage 48 in the central part ot the valve casing, as shown in 6, and from this passage, the steam is adapted to pass to the central chamber 41 ot the valve member through a port 49. The valve member is provided on opposite sides ot the port 49 with two other ports 50 which are capable oit being brought into communication with openings 51 having coi'nmunication with the passages 38 leading to the chambers 33 ot the cylinders. The passages 38 are divided at their upper ends by lugs 52 forming the openings 51 on the inner sides and the openings 53 on their outer sides. The openings 53 are adapted to communicate with the spaces 54 which are formed alternately between the inclined walls 47 ot the cap and each of the inclined walls 42 and 43 of the valve member. The steam is discharged from the passages 38 through nozzles 55 which are secured. in the openings 56 in the upper walls 12 of the cylinders. Each nozzle has a lower wall 55n provided on its upper side with a cone-shaped projection 57 adapted to deflect the particles ot steam outwardlv so that they are discharged as a diverging spray through the openings 58 which are formed in the outer cylindrical wall of the nozzle.

The condensation of the steam in the chamber 33 of each cylinder is effected chiefly by a jet of cold water which is discharged upwardly from a nozzle 60 located in the lower part of the chamber 33 and inclined upwardly at such an angle that the water is discharged toward the central bottom' part of the steam nozzle 55, as shown by the arrow 61 in Fig. 2. Each nozzle has a stem 62 which is secured in a cover plate 63 detachably mounted over an opening 64 in the wall ot1 the cylinder so that the cover plate may be removed to remove the nozzle 60 or to permit access to the sand valve 23 and the adjacent parts. The two nozzles 60 for the adjacent cylinders 10 are connected by branch pipes 65 with a common cold water supply pipe 66 having connected therein a regulating valve 67, as shown in Fig. 1. Each nozzle 60 has a main passage 69 communicating through a smaller passage 70 with a chamber 71 having mounted therein a ball valve 72 adapted to engage a seat 73 at the lower end of the chamber to close the passage 70. The upper end ot the chamberl 71 is closed by a plug 74 secured in place by a set-screw 75 and having a passage 76 therethrough. The plug 74 ol each water injection nozzle is provided with a plurality of notches 77 at its lower end around the passage 7 6 so that when the ball 72 is in engagement with the plug 74, the notches 77 establish a communication around the ball which permits the cold water to be discharged through the passage 76 into the chamber 33 oit' the connected cylinder 10.

The sand or other material which is propelled by the pump is discharged from each of the cylinders 10 through an outlet collar 8() located in an aperture 81 adjacent the lower part of the cylinder in close proximity to the sand inlet valve 23. The collar 8O communicates with an elbow or conduit 82 which is preferably directed upwardly so that the pump proper may be mounted in a depressed position with respect to the pipe which conveys the sand or the like away from the pump to the discharge point. The elbow 82 is rrovided with. an overhanging lip or flange 83 Yforming an underlying recess 83 on the bottom of the elbow, as shown in Fig. 2, so that a quantity ol sand or the like 84 forms a wearing surface for the column of moving sand cr other material which passes through the channel. The elbow or conduit 82 is connected to a valve casing 85 having mounted therein the valve seat 86 similar to the valve seat 20 previously described and having mounted thereon a valve 87 similar in all respects to the valve 23. The extent to which the valve 87 maybe opened is limited by an arm 88 similar to the arm 29. Access to the interior ot the valve casing may be obtained through an opening which is normally closed by a detachable cover plate 89. The upper end ot the valve casing 85 has an outlet opening 90 and an annular flange 91 is provided around this opening to form a recess 92 so that a quantity of sand or the like 93 may collect and form a wearing sur- 'face over which the moving sand travels in passing from the valve casing.

The two valve casings 85 or the two cylinders 10 are connected by means of a Y-coupling 95 having the form illustrated particularly in Fig. This coupling has two converging channels 96 which communicate with a discharge conduit 97 through which the sand or other material is conveyed to the point where it is to be used or shipped. The outer walls of the passageway 96 which dellect the moving material inwardly toward the outlet conduit 97 are each provided with a plurality of over-hanging lips or flanges 98 forming underlying recesses 99 so that deposits of sand 100 may collect and thus reduce the corrosive effect ot the moving material on the parts of the coupling.

In the operation of the apparatus, the cylinders 10 are alternately lled with the sand or other material being pumped and are alternately discharged through the Y-coupl` ing 59 into the discharge conduit 97. Vhen the steam admission valve 35 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, steam is being admitted from the passageway 48 through the valve and the port 50 to the left-hand cylinder, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. This cylinder would at this time be full of sand and water, or substantially so, and as the steam enters it is sprayed by the nozzle as it passes into the cylinder where the force of the steam pressure operates to press the water and sand downwardly and discharge it through the connected outlet collar 8O and discharge valve 87, the valve opening automatically in response to the pressure which is brought to bear on the under side thereof.

When the level of the sand and water in the left-hand cylinder 10 falls below the nozzle connected inthat cylinder, a jet of cold water is forced up into the steam, thereby condensing it and producing a partial vacuum. The reduced pressure in the left-hand cylinder lO is transmitted through the opening 53 to the space 54 adjacent the wall 42 of the valve with the result that the steam pressure within the valve moves it about its pivot toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, thereby establishing a communication from the steam passage i8 through the other port 50 to the other passage 38 leading to the righthand cylinder 10. The production of a vacuum in the left-hand cylinder causes a quantity of water and sand to be drawn into that cylinder through the inlet opening l5 and the valve 23 and, at the same time, the steam admitted into the right-hand cylinder, as viewed in Fig. l, causes the water and sand in that cylinder to be discharged by the steam pressure through the outlet collar 8O of that cylinder and through the coupling 95 into the discharge conduit 97. When the water and sand rise above the level of the nozzle G0 in the left-hand cylinder, the jet of water ceases to play although the vacuum in the cylinder will result in a continued inflow of material through the inlet valve 23. As the material is discharged from t-he righthand cylinder by the steam pressure therein, the material will fall below the level of the water injection valve 60, resulting in the steam in that cylinder being condensed by the action of the -water jet.V In this way the two cylinders operate alternatively to discharge the sand and water alternately through the branches 96 of the passageway in the Y- coupling 95.

Although the apparatus is capable of use for pumping other materials, it may be employed with particular advantage in pumping sand. In the operation of mining sand, the sand particles are commonly loosened from the sand rock by the action of al stream of water under pressure and as the sand is loosened it flows with the water downwardly to form a fluid mixture in which the sand pump is placed with the inlet conduits immersed in the sand so that when a vacuum is created in the connected cylinders` of the pump the sand and water are drawn into the pump without the inclusion of any' appreciable quantity of air. Owing to the elimination of objectionable sharp bends and corners in the construction of the pump, the friction on the in-coming and out-going sand is very greatly reduced as compared with other types of pumps heretofore used for pumping sand. The pump of the present invention therefore operates more ethciently than the pumps heretofore known and` will not only propel greater quantities of sand in a given space of time but will propel the sand through greater distances. In actual practice, it has been found that pumps constructed according to the present invention and having substantially the same dimensions as other pumps heretofore used, when employed with discharge conduits of the same size, will propel greater quantities of sand more than twice the distance which could be attained with the other pumps heretofore used. After continued use of the pump of the present invention it is found that the wear on the parts is substantially negligible and that the only parts which may require renewal Yfrom time to time are the valves which control the inflow and discharge of the sand. These valves may be readily reached by removing the covers 63 and 89 and the construction issuch that these parts may be conveniently replaced. Even if the parts of the pump should wear to an objectionable extent after a more extended use, the parts which are most liable to wear may be conveniently renewed withoutscrapping the vremainder of the pump. The valve seats 2O and 86 may be renewed as readily as the valves and the inlet elbows 14 may be readily replaced without interfering with other parts of the pump. The outlet collars 80 have been constructed as separate parts so that if these become badly worn, they may be replaced and the outlet elbows 82 may also be renewed independently of the connected parts. A feature which contributes largely to the long life of the pump is the provision of means for forming deposits of sand or other material in the bends and at the corners of the pump channels so that the corrosive effect of the moving sand acts on a'wearing surface of sand instead of on the inner surfaces of the pump. Y The removable arms 29 and 88 limit the opening movements of the valves 23 and 87 so that these valves tend at all times to close by gravity independently of the back pressure in the chambers in which they are located.

When the pump is shut down the water contained in the sand'may run out so that a quantity of sediment may be deposited in the coupling 95 and the discharge conduit 97. 1@Vhen this occurs, the deposit may be readily removed before the pump is started in op- 1, eration by introducing a j et of water through the opening 102 at the apex of the inner walls of the passageways 96 in the coupling. This water is supplied through a pipe 103 having connected therein a valve 104i which is closed during the normal operation of the pump.

Although one form of the pump has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in various other forms without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a pump of a pump chamber, a conduit leading into said chamber, and means in said conduit for causing the material being pumped to adhere and form awearing surface.

2. The combination in a pump of a pump cylinder, a conduit leading into said cylinder, a second conduit leading from said cylinder, and means in said second named conduit for causing the material discharged from said pump to adhere and form a wearing surface.

3. The combination in a pump of a vacuum chamber, an inlet conduit leading into the bottom of said chamber, an outlet conduit opening horizontally from the bottom part of said chamber adjacent the mouth of said inlet conduit, means in each said conduits for causing the material to adhere thereto, hinged upwardly swinging valves for controlling the flow of material through said conduits, and means for limiting the opening movements of said valves.

Ll. The combination in a pump of a vacuum chamber, an inlet conduit extending' horizontally and thence upwardly to the bottom of said chamber', an outlet conduit above said inlet conduit extending horizontally and thence upwardly from the side of said chamber adjacent said inlet conduit, flexibly mounted and weighted valves self closable for controlling the flow of material through said conduits, said valve for controlling the inlet conduit being so supported and limited in movement as to positively direct the material passing therethrough toward said outlet conduit, and means causing the material which passes through said conduits to adhere thereto.

T he combination in a pump of a pump chamber, an inlet conduit in the form of an elbow connected to said chamber, an overhanging lip within said conduit above and beyond the bend therein for causing sediment from the material being pumped to adhere and form a wearing surface in the bend of the elbow.

G. The combination in a pump of a pump chamber, a valve controlled conduit leading to said chamber, said chamber having an opening in the wall thereof in close proximity to the inlet end of said valve-controlled conduit and offset vertically and laterally with respect to the latter, a detachable outlet collar mounted in said opening, a detachable valve casing connected to said collar, and a discharge conduit connected to said valve casing, and valve means for controlling the flow through said valve-controlled conduit in such a way that the pumped material is positively directed toward said outlet openmg.

7. The combination in a pump, of a pair of pump cylinders, discharge conduits leading rom said cylinders, a Y-coupling having converging passages each connected to one of said conduits, and means directly within said passages and carried by the internal walls thereof for causing sediment from the material being conveyed to adhere and form wearing surfaces.

8. rJ'he combination in a pump, of a pair of pump cylinders, outlet conduits leading from said cylinders, a detachable coupling having converging passages each connected to one of said outlet conduits, a detachable common discharge conduit leading from said coupling, and means carried by said conpling for injecting water thereinto to clear the sediment from said common discharge conduit.

9. The combination in a pump, of a cylinder, a valve controlled inlet conduit communicating with the lower part of said cylinder, a valve for controlling said inlet casing, said cylinder having an outlet opening, a wearing bushing detachably mounted in said opening, an elbow connected to said bushing, and means within said elbow for causing sediment to adhere and form a wearing surface on the convex side of the elbow, the relation between said wearing bushing and said valve being such that sediment is also caused to adhere therebetween to provide an additional wearing surface.

10. rllhe combination in a pump, of a cylinder, a valve controlled inlet conduit communicating with the lower part of said cylinder, said cylinder having an outlet opening, a wearing bushing detachably mounted in said opening, an elbow connected to said bushing, means within said elbow for causing sediment to adhere and form a wearing surface on the convex side of the elbow, a valve casing connected to said elbow and having a restricted outlet, and means within said casing for causing sediment to adhere and form a wearing surface around said restricted outlet.

11. The combination in a pump, of a pump chamber having an outlet opening, a coupling member communicating with said opening, a valve casing detachably connected to said coupling, an outwardly opening valve detachably mounted in said Valve casing, a detachable valve seat for said Valve, a removable cover plate for said casing to permit access to said valve and valve seat and means directly Within said casing and assooiated conduit members for reducing the friction of the material on said parts as it passes therethrough by causing sediment to deposit thereon and adhere thereto.

JOSEPH GYGER. 

